Moe Ariyoshi ’26 on Morals and Technology

Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.

This summer at Carnegie India, I am working as a summer assistant to provide senior research analysts with briefings on various topics including international trade and technology corporations, border conflicts and infrastructure, multilateral relationships with India, India's political economy, and other international think tank organizations. 

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship? 

In the Spring 2024 semester, I took Professor Marc Blecher's POLT 212 Political Economy of Development in Asia, in which we discussed the development of 5 main Asian economies: Japan, India, China, South Korea and Taiwan. In a different class offered by Professor Rudabeh Shahid, I examined the politics of citizenship in India, Myanmar and the United States. The two classes captured my interest to take a closer look at India to experience how the nation with a history and culture over 4000 years, the largest population on Earth, and a world class military, is growing its international presence. My professors at Oberlin have taught me how to look at the world in a greater context, but in this summer assistantship at Carnegie India, I wanted to learn from watching closely what analysts at the frontlines of the foreign policy research experience.

How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals?

As a computer science major, my career goals focused mainly on the development of technologies. However, at Carnegie India, I was able to see how policy studies perceive and attempt to govern technology, an important aspect for both private lives but also national power. This summer assistantship has allowed me to become aware of the consequences of development and its impact on the prosperity of the international community.

How has the liberal arts education and way of thinking shaped how you approach research?

The liberal arts education and way of thinking helped me better understand the role and implications of technology development, whether it is to empower individuals or secure national power. The liberal arts education has equipped me with the right moral responsibility as an engineer with good goals and intentions for development that will enable individuals mobility while ensuring its right use.

If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with the Career Exploration & Development team to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.